Wildlife

Wild Krill Ecosystem Welfare and Marine Food Chains

Antarctic krill are foundational to Southern Ocean ecosystems, and their decline affects millions of animals.

Key Facts

Antarctic krill biomass is estimated at 300-500 million tonnes
Krill are food for whales, penguins, seals, and seabirds
Climate change is reducing sea ice, which krill depend on in winter
Commercial krill fishing for omega-3 supplements is growing rapidly

Welfare Considerations

Krill population decline cascades through the food web, causing nutritional stress, reproductive failure, and increased mortality for krill-dependent species. Whales that cannot find adequate krill starve — a prolonged and agonising process. Penguins that starve before fledging die slowly. The welfare implications of ecosystem disruption at the base of the food chain are enormous in scale.

What You Can Do

Question the sustainability of krill oil supplements and consider alternatives
Support Southern Ocean protection and the creation of Antarctic marine reserves
Advocate for precautionary krill fishing limits
Donate to organisations monitoring Southern Ocean ecosystem health